Recent advancements in 2D graphene materials highlight their versatile applications in electronics, clean energy, medicine, and other fields due to their exceptional properties and ease of fabrication. The current study investigates the preparation of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) through the thermal exfoliation of graphite oxide under an air atmosphere at varying temperatures (200–500 °C) and further examines its suitability as an anode for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. The extent of reduction of functional groups, exfoliation, and other physical changes is analyzed by XRD, SEM, XPS, BET, and Raman studies, which show that the reduction of functional groups and surface area increases with increasing exfoliation temperature. The RGO electrodes are subjected to electrochemical studies, including cyclic voltammetry and charge–discharge cycling at various current densities, which demonstrate varying discharge capacities for RGO samples prepared at different temperatures. The RGO exfoliated at 400 °C delivered the maximum capacity, indicating that this temperature is optimal for the thermal preparation of RGO. This material shows potential for use as an anode in Li-ion batteries.

Low-temperature thermal exfoliated reduced graphene oxide as an anode material for Li-ion batteries
    Abstract
        Graphical abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Methods and experimental
        2.1 Preparation of thermally reduced graphene oxide (RGO)
        2.2 Experimental conditions for physical and electrochemical characterizations
    3 Results and discussions
        3.1 Physical characterizations
        3.2 Electrochemical characterizations
    4 Final discussion and conclusions
    Acknowledgements 
    References

• Xiao Han(Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China)
• Udayabhaskararao Thumu(Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China) Corresponding author
• Tirupathi Rao Penki(Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India)
• Brij Kishore(Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India)
• Munichandraiah Nookala(Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India)
• Shivakumara Sekharappa(Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India, Department of Chemistry, REVA University, Kattigenahaltimeli, Yelahanka, Bangalore 560064, India)
• Gopi Raja(Department of Green Energy Technology, Madanjeet School of Green Energy Technologies, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605014, India)
• Krishna Harika Villa(Department of Green Energy Technology, Madanjeet School of Green Energy Technologies, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605014, India)
• Yixi Wang(School of New Energy Materials and Chemistry, Leshan Normal University, Leshan 614000, Sichuan, China)